Festival focusses on revival of Cultural, Literary values

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 December 2002, 02:18 GMT]"After twenty years of brutal war, with the dawn of peace, Tamils in northeast province have now got an opportunity to work for the revival of their lost literary and cultural values," said Mr S.Sivanandan, Director of Education of the Provincial Ministry of Education, presiding over the first day evening session of the Tamil Literary Festival held in Trincomalee.

Ms Kamalathevi Sivasithamparam, Provincial Secretary to the NE Ministry of Public Administration delivering her speech as chief guest at the evening session of the NE Tamil Literary Festival.

"Mass displacement during the period of war has ruined the education and cultural values of Tamils in northeast. Two vital elements are needed for a race to maintain its identity. One is languge, its literary values, and the other is the cultural values and the way of life," said Mr.Sivanandan.

Thousands of internally displaced now in refugee camps are slowly returning to their villages. In addition to helping them resettle, it is also the opportune moment for educational authorities to take steps to prepare plans to restore their cultural values and to help improve proficiency in their language, stressed Mr.Sivanandan.

Tamil literary festivals should be held in every district in the northeast province to rejuvenate the spirit of leading a life firmly grounded on their vibrant cultural values, added the Director of Education.

Participating as the chief guest Ms Kamalathevi Sivasithamparam, Provincial Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration said, "the social and economic progress
of a race depends on the growth of its language and safeguarding its cultural values. The twenty year old war has prevented Tamils in this province from taking steps to safeguard their cultural values and to develop their mother tongue to meet the challenges in the new century."

Mr.S.Mahalingam, Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance) of the North East Provincial Council, and Mr.S.Ethirmanasingham, retired Assistant Director of Cultural Affairs, were guests of honour.

The oriental dance of Ms Abirami Patkunam was the highlight of the evening session of the first day Tamil Literary festival.